All posts tagged frozen fruit

My daughter stopped drinking milk when I finally broke down and got rid of her bottle. (Ok, so I let her drink her milk from a bottle until she was two. There are worse things one can do when parenting, right?!? I felt some sense of pediatric guilt, but ultimately, I was tired of buying Avent nipples every week because she was biting holes in them. ) My daughter is one of those stubborn types, like myself, who instead of holding out a week with not drinking milk from a bottle, she decided to refuse a cup, sippy, or straw to drink her dairy for almost a month. Fortunately, she grew fond of frozen yogurt sticks. And while the organic brands are void of artificial colorings and flavorings, I still think it’s better to know exactly what’s going into my family’s food, so I decided to try to make my own. With very little effort and a small amount of time, it’s possible to create a fun, healthy treat for your kids. But honestly, they’re pretty tasty, and I find myself sneaking one out of the freezer for myself from time to time!

During the summer months, when fresh berries and fruit are abundantly available in your local markets, use whatever combination you fancy to include in your frozen pops. However, frozen fruit can also be used with fantastic results. Before you throw out bananas nearing their expiration, peel them, wrap them in plastic, and place them in the freezer for later use. When you’re ready to use them, just thaw them, and add to your frozen pop blend. As for which type of mold you choose, it’s really up to your personal preference. There are many different shapes and sizes available on the market today. Stay away from thin plastic molds, as they tend to break easily when attempting to remove the popsicle before consumption. More flexible, thicker plastic molds work better. I have had great success using popsicle molds from IKEA. But you could even use paper or plastic cups, allow the liquid to harden in the freezer for about 15 minutes, then place a popsicle stick into the liquid, and allow them to continue freezing solid. Always remember to run the mold under some warm water for a few seconds to release the popsicle easily, avoiding a lot of unnecessary effort and frustration.

In a large bowl, combine the yogurt, bananas, fruit, and honey. With a stick blender, blend all the ingredients together. (Alternatively, you could place all the ingredients in a blender or food processor.) Pour the yogurt mixture into the molds, dividing evenly, and filling almost entirely up to the top of each mold. Place the stick inside each mold and place in the freezer. The pops should be completely frozen in about 4 hours.